08-31-2019, 12:08 PM
Centurias centuries
dicimus relate
partes part
exercitus a disciplined body of men
in into
centenos hundred
milites soldiers
diuisos divide
unde whence
et and
qui who
his here
Presunt (praesunt) be set over, have charge of
centuriones centurions
dicuntur affirm
ergo consequence
succenturiati to receive as a recruit into a centuria
sunt are
non not
qui In what manner, whereby, some body, any thing
in in
prima first
sed on the contrary
qui In what manner, whereby, some body, any thing
in in
secunda second
centuria century
sunt are
quasi Just as if, though
sub under, behind
prima first
centuria century
tamen nevertheless
structi arrange
etiam still, even now
ipsi self
in in
speculis Watchtower, a look-out
positi place, set
in in
bello war
sunt are
ut Where, that, so that
si If,when
primi first
defecerint withdraw
isti this, that, he, she
quos anybody
subesse To be under, be behind
diximus Assert, state, say, speak
laborantibus To labor, endeavor, exert, strive
primis first
subueniant To assist, reinforce, relieve
unde Whence, from which place
et and
at but
insidiandum to lie in ambush, lie in wait for
ponitur placed
succenturiatos recruits
quasi Just as if, as though, sort of
armis Arms, instruments
dolosis cunning
instructos Build, instructed
Translation:
It is related: centuries are a part of the army and divided into a hundred soldiers. Centurions are in charge of them.
Consequently it is related: recruits are not in the first (centuria) but on the contrary in the second centuria. Behind the first century they arrange themselves in a look-out position in war. So that when the first (centuria) withdraw, those that are behind them, can assert to endeavor to assist the first (centuria). Whence from the place where the recruits were placed to lie in wait for (the second centuria), in this sort of way the recruits are cunningly instructed (trained) in their military instruments.
Commentary:
This text seems to be full of allusions and even even a professional Latin translator will probably struggle, especially if he has no understanding of the Roman Army.
“Prima; secunda centuria”: the text speaks about two types of century, the first and second, these can, in my opinion, be equated with the prior and posterior centuries in the legion.
“Succenturiati”: This text says that the recruits (as I have translated, Succenturiati can also be translated as: “to put in the place of another, receive as a substitute”) are never placed in the front of the battle-line. This is very interesting comparing this to the Miles Marianus who as tiro was more forward then the veterans.
“in speculis positi in bello”: One can say placed in an observational standpoint in the battle, or this is an allusion to a special army formation called the “turres” or tower.
See: Gell. NA 10.9.1: Quibus modis quoque habitu acies Romana instrui solita sit; quaeque earum
instructionum sint vocabula. I. Vocabula sunt militaria, quibus instructa certo modo acies appellari solet: frons, subsidia, cuneus, orbis, globus, forfices, serra, alae, turres
“subveniant” if it is translated as assist or reinforce, it seems to be understood as to back up as in a hoplite phalanx, or perhaps throwing pila and other missiles over in support. If subveniant is translated as relieve, then the text speaks about the doctrine of line replacement.
dicimus relate
partes part
exercitus a disciplined body of men
in into
centenos hundred
milites soldiers
diuisos divide
unde whence
et and
qui who
his here
Presunt (praesunt) be set over, have charge of
centuriones centurions
dicuntur affirm
ergo consequence
succenturiati to receive as a recruit into a centuria
sunt are
non not
qui In what manner, whereby, some body, any thing
in in
prima first
sed on the contrary
qui In what manner, whereby, some body, any thing
in in
secunda second
centuria century
sunt are
quasi Just as if, though
sub under, behind
prima first
centuria century
tamen nevertheless
structi arrange
etiam still, even now
ipsi self
in in
speculis Watchtower, a look-out
positi place, set
in in
bello war
sunt are
ut Where, that, so that
si If,when
primi first
defecerint withdraw
isti this, that, he, she
quos anybody
subesse To be under, be behind
diximus Assert, state, say, speak
laborantibus To labor, endeavor, exert, strive
primis first
subueniant To assist, reinforce, relieve
unde Whence, from which place
et and
at but
insidiandum to lie in ambush, lie in wait for
ponitur placed
succenturiatos recruits
quasi Just as if, as though, sort of
armis Arms, instruments
dolosis cunning
instructos Build, instructed
Translation:
It is related: centuries are a part of the army and divided into a hundred soldiers. Centurions are in charge of them.
Consequently it is related: recruits are not in the first (centuria) but on the contrary in the second centuria. Behind the first century they arrange themselves in a look-out position in war. So that when the first (centuria) withdraw, those that are behind them, can assert to endeavor to assist the first (centuria). Whence from the place where the recruits were placed to lie in wait for (the second centuria), in this sort of way the recruits are cunningly instructed (trained) in their military instruments.
Commentary:
This text seems to be full of allusions and even even a professional Latin translator will probably struggle, especially if he has no understanding of the Roman Army.
“Prima; secunda centuria”: the text speaks about two types of century, the first and second, these can, in my opinion, be equated with the prior and posterior centuries in the legion.
“Succenturiati”: This text says that the recruits (as I have translated, Succenturiati can also be translated as: “to put in the place of another, receive as a substitute”) are never placed in the front of the battle-line. This is very interesting comparing this to the Miles Marianus who as tiro was more forward then the veterans.
“in speculis positi in bello”: One can say placed in an observational standpoint in the battle, or this is an allusion to a special army formation called the “turres” or tower.
See: Gell. NA 10.9.1: Quibus modis quoque habitu acies Romana instrui solita sit; quaeque earum
instructionum sint vocabula. I. Vocabula sunt militaria, quibus instructa certo modo acies appellari solet: frons, subsidia, cuneus, orbis, globus, forfices, serra, alae, turres
“subveniant” if it is translated as assist or reinforce, it seems to be understood as to back up as in a hoplite phalanx, or perhaps throwing pila and other missiles over in support. If subveniant is translated as relieve, then the text speaks about the doctrine of line replacement.
